Maximum rates for visits and examinations: in effect from September 21

The Ministry of Health has defined the new maximum tariffs for the remuneration of outpatient specialist care and prosthetic care services, effective from September 21, 2026. The measure is the decree of August 7, 2026, signed by Minister Schillaci in concert with the Minister of Economy and Finance Giorgetti, published in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic, General Series no. 218 of September 19, 2026, on page 2, with the official reference 26A04955.

The regulatory basis and precedents

The decree implements Art. 8-sexies, paragraphs 5 and 7, of Legislative Decree no. 502 of December 30, 1992, and Art. 15 of Decree-Law no. 95 of July 6, 2012, converted by Law no. 135 of August 7, 2012. The tariffs concern the services of the essential levels of assistance defined by the DPCM of January 12, 2017: Annex 2 updates the tariffs for outpatient specialist care (Annex 4 of the DPCM), and Annex 3 those for custom prosthetics (Annex 5, list 1).

The new text updates the tariffs attached to the ministerial decree of November 25, 2024, which was challenged by numerous appellants. The Regional Administrative Court of Lazio issued annulment rulings with a deferred effect of 365 days from the filing of the first rulings, which occurred on September 22, 2025, and the litigation remains pending.

Bound resources

Financial coverage is provided for by Art. 1, paragraph 350, of Law no. 199 of December 30, 2025:

• 100 million euros earmarked for the year 2026;
• 183 million euros annually starting from the year 2027.

The maximum tariffs serve as a reference for all regions and autonomous provinces and act as reference tariffs for the compensation of interregional mobility. Regions may set higher amounts only in compliance with Art. 15, paragraph 17, of Decree-Law no. 95/2012, with the exceeding costs borne by regional budgets.

Mobility, special autonomies, and bonus quota

In special statute regions and in the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano, the decree is implemented only in the parts compatible with the Statute of Autonomy and the implementing regulations. In interregional agreements approved by the State-Regions Conference, it is possible to provide for additional remuneration for specifically identified providers, limited to the costs of specific high-cost drugs indicated in Annex 2.

Compliance with the decree constitutes fulfillment for the purpose of accessing the bonus quota referred to in Art. 2, paragraph 68, letter c), of Law no. 191/2009. The transitional provisions also refer to prosthetics: prescriptions issued by December 29, 2024, with the codes of ministerial decree no. 332/1999, remain deliverable until December 28, 2025, while dematerialized prescriptions have a maximum validity of 180 days.

The approval process

The text incorporates the outcome of the plenary session of the Permanent Tariff Commission of July 10, 2026, the opinion of the National Agency for Regional Health Services (Agenas), expressed in note no. 7929 of July 13, 2026, and the Agreement reached by the Permanent Conference for relations between the State, the regions and the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano in the session of July 23, 2026. The methodological report is attached to the decree as Annex 1 and constitutes an integral part thereof.

Impact

For citizens and accredited facilities, the novelty takes effect from September 21, 2026: from that date, the tariffs apply to the prescribed services, with effects across all regions and on access to the bonus quota. The measure closes a phase of extensions lasting over two years and replaces the tariff framework contested before the administrative judge.

Source: Official Gazette of the Italian Republic, General Series no. 218 of September 19, 2026, page 2 — decree of August 7, 2026, Ministry of Health, reference 26A04955.